Illuminated window sign for automobiles



Oct. 17,1961

5. s. PISCIOTTA 3,004,359

ILLUMINATED WINDOW SIGN FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Nov. 28, 1958 IN VEN TOR.541/58/0 S. PAS c/ o T 74,

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United States Patent 3,004,359 ILLUMINATED WIND OW SIGN FOR AUTOMOBILESSaverio S. Pisciotta, 5223 Georgia Ave. NW., Washington, D.C. Filed Nov.28, 1958, Ser. No. 776,893 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-129) This invention relatesgenerally to signs and to illumination means therefor. Moreparticularly, the invention has reference to an illuminated window sign,designed particularly for installation in the window of an automobile.

It is not uncommon, particularly in small businesses, for one to utilizea vehicle at times for personal purposes, and at other times forbusiness purposes. In such instances, it is desirable that whenever thevehicle is being used for personal purposes, all signs and other commerical markings be readily removable, so as not to detract from theappearance of the vehicle.

Apart from the above, instances often arise in which even though thevehicle is to be used entirely for business purposes, sign means beprovided therefore that will be exceedingly inexpensive, and yetattractive, and capable of full illumination.

It is also desirable, in signs falling within the general categorydescribed, to permit the sign to be installed with a minimum amount oflabor cost, and with a minimum disfiguration of the vehicle. In thisway, not only is the cost of installation reduced, but further, if theowner should desire, at some later time, to sell the vehicle, the signmeans can be swiftly removed, to facilitate the resale of the vehicleand maintain the resale price thereof at a maximum level.

Yet another desirable aim, in signs of the character stated, resides inan ararngement wherein a sign member can be readily interchanged withother sign members, so that one may reflect tradename, address, andtelephone number changes in the commercial markings provided upon thevehicle at a minimum cost.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an illuminatedwindow sign for vehicles which will achieve the several aims set forthabove as desirable in structures of this type.

Another object is to provide an illuminated window sign of the characterstated which will be so designed as to be uniformly illuminated over itsentire area, with the illumination being confined wholly within saidarea, and being limited against undesirable diffusion beyond the edgesof the sign member. 'In this way, it is proposed to provide a highlyattractive sign, designed to catch the eyes of passersby, and furtherdesigned to insure against undesirable distraction of vehicle operatorsin the immediate surrounding area.

Another object is to provide, in an illuminated window sign of thecharacter stated, a combined lamp holder and spacer means, which isdesigned to support a small bulb of very low wattage, in an arrangementsuch as to provide fora high degree of illumination of an area ofsubstantial size with a completely in consequential depletion ofelectrical power.

Another object is to so design the combination lamp holder and spacer asto cause the same to space the lower edge of the sign member outwardlyfrom an adjacent plane or glass, whereby the sign member will beinclined slightly relative to theglass, to produce a wedge-shaped areathrough which the light beams will be cast and in which said beams willbe substantially confined, thus to increase to a maximum extent theefficiency of the device in providing illumination of a sign member.

Another object is to so design the combination lamp r 3,004,359 PatentedOct. 17, 1961 holder and spacer member as to facilitate itsincorporation in a conventional electrical system of a vehicle.

A further object of importance is to provide a combination lamp holderand spacer of the character. stated, so designed that the means thatholds the spacer in place upon the sill or bottom molding of the windowwill also serve to provide a ground connection.

Yet another object is to provide a sign of the character stated whereinthe sign member is a readily removable element, so that when the vehicleis in use for wholly personal purposes, the sign member can be swiftlytaken out, leaving only the lamp holders, retaining brackets, all ofwhich are designed to be so small as to not be visible to the casualobserver.

A further object of importance is to provide an illuminated window sign,the design of which is such as to permit the sign member to be a simple,inexpensive cardboard sign of the type readily prepared by sign shops atlow cost, with the arrangement being such that when the sign member isinstalled, it provides the appearance, to a casual observer, of avehicle sign of the type usually prepared at a cost substantiallygreater than that involved in the preparation of the sign member of theinvention.

Still another object is to provide an illuminated window sign of thecharacter stated having a plurality of components, namely, the lampholding spacers, retaining brackets, abutments, etc., that can be usedin any vehicles, regardless of the make or body type, requiring only theproper shaping of the signmember with which said components are used. Inother words, it is proposed to so design the illuminated window sign sothat in packaging the invention, the manufacturer can provide standardcomponents usable in any vehicles, with the purchaser being thereafterenabled to merely purchase a sign member shaped to fit the particularwindow in which the device is to be used.

Another object of importance is to provide an illuminated window signcapable of manufacture at a very low cost, considering theattractiveness thereof and the benefits to be obtained from its use,with the sign, nevertheless, being rugged so as to be usable for a longperiod of time.

Another object is to so design the sign as to cause the same torepresent a minimum interior Projection in the vehicle, the constructionbeing such that the sign projects inwardly from the adjacent windowglass no more than a distance of perhaps one inch at the most.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claimsappended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout the several views, andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a vehicle with theilluminated window sign of the invention mounted therein;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational' view of the sign and of adjacentportions of the vehicle, on the same scale as FIGURE 2, as seen from theright of FIGURE 2, that is, as seen from within the vehicle;

FIGURE 4 is a still further enlarged perspective view of one of thelamp-holding spacer members, showing one side thereof; and

FIGURE 5 is a view on the same scale as FIGURE 4, showing one of thelamp-holding spacer members in perspective and illustrating the other,open side thereof.

Referring to the drawing in detail, generally designated at 10 is aconventional automobile. In the illustrated example, a station wagon isshown, but as will be apparent, the invention is designed for use in anyof various makes and body types of vehicles. For example, it will beap-' 'ice parent that the sign can be readily installed in a selectedside window of a twodoor or four-door sedan.

By way of example, the vehicle shown has a forward side strip or post.12, and a rear side strip or post 14. These are inclined in theillustrated example, but obviously, could extend vertically.

The vehicle also is provided with a top strip or molding 16, and abottom strip or molding 18, cooperating with the posts 12, 14 indefining a window area across which extends the window glass or pane 20.

All this is conventional construction in a vehicle of modern design, andas will be understood, the particular shape or size of the windowopening defined by posts 12 and 14 and strips 16, 18 is capable ofvariation, without departure from the spirit of the invention. Theconstruction, in fact, is such as to impart versatility to the anrangement, to adapt the device for installation in window openings ofdifferent sizes and shapes, the only change from one device to anotherresiding in the particular shape imparted to the sign member 22 thereof.

The sign member 22, thus, in the illustrated example, has inclinedforward and rearward edges, extending in closely spaced, parallelrelation to the posts 12, 14. The top and bottom edges of the signmember extend in close proximity to or in contact with the top andmolding strips 16, 1,8, In this way, the sign member 22 completely fillsthe area of the window opening, being shaped correspondingly to thewindow opening.

' The sign member can be of relatively inexpensive con struction, andcould, for example, be a conventional cardboard sign readily produced toa size and shape ordered by the customer in any conventional sign shop,without requirement of ones leaving the vehicle at the shop during themaking of the sign.

In accordance with the invention, there are provided clamp-holdingspacer members generally designated 24. In the illustrated example,there are two of these, but the number couldbe varied, according to thelength of the particular sign and the area'thereof that is to beilluminated.

. In any event, when two of the members 24 are used, as in theillustrated example, they would be disposed adjacent the forward andrear edges of the sign member, being mounted upon the lower moldingstrip 18. The spacer members are identical, so that the description ofone will suflice for both.

Each spacer member 24 includes a shell open at its top, one side, andone end, as shown in FIGURE 5. The shell can be of thin metal material,preferably having a surface that will reflect light to the maximumextent. In any event, the shell of the member 24 includes a verticalside wall 26 adapted to be disposed in face-to-face contact with thelower portion of the glass as shown in FIG- URE 2. Side wall 26 isintegral along its bottom edge with a horizontal bottom wall 28, and thewalls 26, 28 at .one endare integral with an end wall 30 which, in theillustrated xample, is of quadrantal shape.

' Mounted in the end wall 30 is a conventional lamp bulb socket 32,, inwhich is engaged a lamp bulb 34. Bulb 34 is of the type commonly used invehicles, to illuminate-dials on the instrument panel, etc. Bulb 34 isthus of a very low wattage, sothat there is minimum depletion of theelectrical power of the vehicle when the device is in use.

Connected with one terminal of the socket 32 is a single wire 36, theother terminal being electrically connected to the end wall 30 toprovide a ground to the vehicle body through the shell.

To insure a good ground connection, and also to mount the shell upon thebottom strip 18, there is provided a right-angular tongue 38 extendingdownwardly from the shell, into engagement with the under side of thestrip 18 (see FIGURE 2). Tongue 38 is soldered, as at 40, or isotherwise fixedly, permanently attached, to the strip 18.

This arrangement provides for a good electrical connection, throughground.

The members 24 are thus readily incorporated in a conventional vehicleelectrical system of the single-wire type.

It will be understood that in atypical embodiment, the sockets would .beconnected to provide for conjoint illumination of the lamp bulbs,through the medium of a switch connected in circuit with said sockets,said switch not being shown. The switch would thus permit the bulbs tobe energized independently of any other electrical components of thevehicle.

Secured to the top strip 16 are spaced upper retaining bracketsgenerally designated 41. Each of these includes a holder member 42 ofU-shape, carrying a roughened rubber roller 44.

The brackets 41, per se, are of conventional construction, being of thetype used as anti-rattling means for automobile windows.

In any event, the brackets 41 are secured by screws or similar means tothe upper strip 16, in position to engage the top edge portion of thesign member 22 at locations spaced longitudinally of said member.

Also provided is a stop or abutment element 46, secured by a screw orequivalent fastener to the lower strip 18, at a location midway betweenthe lamp-holding spacer members 24 (see FIGURES 2 and 3). The stopelement 46 is spaced laterally outwardly from the glass 20 a distanceslightly greater than the maximum lateral projection of the members 24from said glass (see FIGURE 2). As a result, there is defined a spacewithin which the lower edge portion of the sign member 22 is snuglyengaged between the members 24 and the element 46.

In use of the device, the members 24 are installed upon the bottom strip18, together with the element 45, with the upper retaining brackets 41being connected to the top strip 16. The wires 36 are connected to oneside of the electrical system of the vehicle, with the tongues 38providing ground connections. 7

The necessary electrical connections, wiring, etc., are believed wellwithin the skill of those working in the art, and accordingly, nospecial description or illustration of the circuits involved wouldappear necessary, other than to state that from one side of the vehiclebattery, there would extend a lead in which is disposed a manuallyoperable switch. Said lead would be connected to Wires 36, extending tothe individual bulbs 34, with the switch being disposed between thebattery and the connection of said lead to the respective wires 36.

The bulbs, or" course, as will be readily perceived, have theirindividual ground connections to the source of electrical power throughthe medium of their associated tongues 38. I

With the members 24 installed as described above, and with theretaining'brackets 41 and element 46 in place, sign member 22 isinserted in the manner and position shown in FIGURE 2. The top edgeportion of the sign member is held in direct contact with the glass 20by the retaining brackets 41. The bottom edge portion of the sign memberis spaced outwardly from the glass by the spacer members 24, and is heldin position by the abutment element 46.

Therefore, the sign member 22 is in a plane inclined slightly from thevertical, assuming the glass 26' to be in a vertical plane. In somevehicles, the glass 20 might not be in a vertical plane, but. in eachinstance, the glass and sign member would be disposed in upwardlyconvergent planes. The lower. edge of the sign member, however, isspaced laterally inwardly from the glass 20 only a very short distance,probably an inch, more-orless, in a conventional installation.

This produces a space 48 between member 22 and glass 20 (see FIGURE 2),said space being closed at its forward and rear ends by the posts 12,14. The space is thus enclosed, and is of progressively narrowing widthin an upward direction. Into this space the beams emanating from thebulbs 34 are cast, illuminating the full area of the sign member, withthe light being confined within the periphery of the sign member. Thisprovides a highly attractive installation, adapted to arrest the eye ofpassersby and hold their attention. At a very low cost, considerableillumination is provided, and in addition, it will be observed thatwhenthe sign is used in the daytime without illumination, there is stillprovided a highly attractive sign means on the vehicle.

Whenever one desires to remove the sign, the same is swiftly disengagedfrom under the rollers 44, freeing the sign member for complete removal.There now remains only the brackets, spacer members, etc., which are sosmall and inconspicuously located as not to be normally observed by thecasual viewer.

Of course, the invention is designed for installation in any of thevarious makes and body types of vehicles, at very low cost, since thespacer members, retaining brackets, etc., are capable of manufacture ata low cost, and are usable in any selected vehicle. One need only have asign member prepared to a selected size and shape.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confinedto the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may beutilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the inventionto be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrativeof the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carryout said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehendsany changes in construction that may be permitted within the scope ofthe appanded claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a window frame having spaced upper and lowerhorizontal moldings and spaced vertical side members, a transparentpanel secured in said frame, a pair of horizontal reflector memberssecured upon and spaced along said lower molding at the inward side ofand engaging said transparent panel, said members having upstanding endwalls having free laterally inward ends spaced inwardly from thetransparent panel, light bulbs mounted on said end walls, upstandingstop flanges fixed on the lower molding and spaced inwardly from thetransparent panel, a sign plate coextensive with said transparent panel,said sign plate having upper and lower side edges, the lower edge of thesign plate being supportably engaged upon said lower molding and engagedbetween the inward ends of said end walls, the upper edge of the signplate bearing against the laterally inward surface of the transparentpanel in the region of said upper molding, and bracket means mounted onthe upper molding and releasably engaged with the laterally inward sideof the sign plate at the upper edge thereof.

2. In combination, a window frame having spaced upper and lowerhorizontal moldings and spaced vertical side members, a transparentpanel secured in said frame, a pair of horizontal reflector memberssecured upon and spaced along said lower molding at the inward side ofand engaging said transparent panel, said members having upstanding endwalls having free laterally inward ends spaced inwardly from thetransparent panel, light bulbs mounted on said end walls, upstandingstop flanges fixed on the lower molding and spaced inwardly from thetransparent panel, a sign plate coextensive with said transparent panel,said sign plate having upper and lower side edges, the lower edge of thesign plate being supportably engaged upon said lower molding and engagedbetween the inward ends of, said end walls, the upper edge of the signplate bearing against the laterally inward surface of the transparentpanel in the region of said upper molding, and bracket means mounted onthe upper molding and releasably engaged with the laterally inward sideof the sign plate at the upper edge thereof, said reflector membershaving hook flanges which are engaged over and beneath said lowermolding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,232,037 Jaminet July 3, 1917 1,633,635 Harmon et a1. June 28, 19271,848,951 Hayes Mar. 8, 1932. 1,950,548 Fuller Mar. 13, 1934 2,220,262Miller Nov. 5, 1940 2,602,254 Dickmann July 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS192,231 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1923

